The Crooked Silhouette

Chapter 14: The Capture

Three gigantic trees with three meters gap between each other were the only partition from their hiding spot. Kani was observed wandering around while believably being wary of his prey. He treaded forward once at a time as his pace was so slow, but it was because he was going to lock his prey once he spotted one. Both his hands were altered into claws, his Zodiacal weapon as a Cancer. The butler-suited creature was really prudent to his milieu that his strides were very soundless. Even the colliding grass did not affect the stillness of The Forest of Eve.

            His cautiousness was particularly finer compared to theirs.

            “Told you we cannot move,” Otome whispered at Takeru, dictating on his rationality. “Even though Kani isn’t a speed-type Zodiac, he fights at long range which means you’re committing suicide if you jump at him unprepared.”

            “But it has been too long,” Takeru grunted in displease, “I’m afraid we will get too far away from my friends, Tatsu and Hikari. Plus, I haven’t found Kei and Koichi yet. I must unite all five of us.”

            Both irrefutably gripped staunchly on their own conviction – one persisted on constructing a strategy first, while the other one preferred waylaying. Kani was opportunely alone and seemingly the attendance of those two was inconspicuous. Primarily they were prowling around, finding methods to slip away from The Forest of Eve, when Takeru incredibly saw Kani from afar. Essence of Otome’s knowledge on Kani’s ability inherently tipped Takeru off not to take him heedlessly.

            “I’m sorry. It’s not that I’m ungrateful of how keen you were to be able to observe Kani from such distance, and I don’t mean to delay your meet-up with your friends, but I just don’t want to risk our lives. No one knows how long we will live. Furthermore I don’t know what Tsuya has conspired all these while, and you haven’t come across your friends yet, right?” He designedly reiterated phrases like ‘friends’ and reunion likewise to shut Takeru off from going berserk, as he was fearful The Human most likely would do it. “Uh. I really want to end this. Everything sickens me.”

            “So do you think I sicken you too?”

            Discerning the sudden diversion from an adamant tenacity to a slumping tone, Otome switched abruptly to Takeru. Was this Human sulking in resentment over simple quotation which he did not even direct it to him? “You must be kidding me.”

            Approximately thirty minutes have elapsed plus their uncooperative shaking knees and numbing soles, Kani did not really budge. From their peeking site, it seemed like Kani never even progressed. The stiffening pressure magnified when Kani opted to turn and paced to their course. The space lessened from three-tree gaps to two-tree, and to one-tree-

            “Kani.”

            The final step reverberated treading and Kani shifted gruffly, causing his braided hair to swing and hit against a hanging climbing tree. Finally, he composed a sound even though it was too vague to allure predators. Takeru and Otome patted their chests, calming their pulsating heart down and soothing their fluctuating breath out. They were about to bump into the end of their friendship right before someone summoned Kani which restrained him from proceeding. Kani turned and confronted the one calling him – Ite the Sagittarius.

            “Have you found anyone?” Ite initiated the conversation.

            They heard Kani released a long sigh. His hands transformed back to their original shape. “Nope,” he shortly replied with droopy eyes.

            “Me too,” perhaps it sounded ordinary to those Zodiacs, but Otome thought Ite was trying to buoy Kani up. “Shishi hasn’t found either. Even The Zodiacs.”

            “All we could meet again and again were Yagi, Mizugame, and those Humans with them Tatsu and Hikari. I wonder where the other two Zodiacs have gone to.”

            “It’s a little atypical for us to bank on Mizugame. He’s always participating the least in wars. But his ability is exceptionally splendid in this case.”

            Takeru could not help himself but to hiss in anger. He noticed Otome was nudging at his abdomen, silencing him so that their supressing spot would not be unearthed. He heeded since Otome was factual and he did not ascertain hazard from not jumping out.

            “How about Oushi and Kei? Oushi’s is fine too, but he can’t really find long-distanced Dimensionals.”

            “I do agree with the idea. But Tsuya has already had their hands and feet tied.”

            “He what?!”

            Otome had to block Takeru with his arms since The Human did not seem to relax. He was somehow triggered when Ite unknowingly disclosed that Kei was already in Tsuya’s grasp, surely together with The Zodiac who has abducted him. From the chat, he detected The Zodiac as Oushi. “Oushi is what?”

            “A Taurus,” Otome furrowed since he tried hard to eavesdrop as quiet as he could, “Oushi was a bad-tempered type too, but cooler compared to Sasori. He likes causing ruckus with other creatures, and I believe he did the same until he led Ite and Kani to capture him.”

            “I heard they stated about my friends Tatsu and Hikari, along with The Zodiacs Yagi and Mizugame,” Despite the unfolding dialogue with Otome while certifying themselves impregnable from threats by either Kani or Ite, Takeru’s mind was truly working hard to ruminate of any feasibility to reconcile with his friends. “Basically we haven’t found Koichi only.”

            The Virgo thought thoroughly to deduce Takeru’s hypothesis. “So, the only Zodiac we haven’t heard of his whereabouts is Ohitsuji. He must be with your friend Koichi.”

            “I’m wondering,” Takeru propped his chin, his eyes rooted at Kani and Ite as they strode further from them, “What’s the relationship between Yagi, Mizugame, Tatsu and Hikari, with those two?” he stuck out two fingers towards the distancing Zodiacs, “Shishi? Wasn’t he assaulting those four, like how we watched the day before yesterday?”

            “You do have a point,” Otome unhurriedly came out of their veiling tree and tried curtailing whatever sound beneath his feet. It was quite nettling since there were dangling trees everywhere in their vision. “Earlier, I guess Shishi, Ite and Kani were the spies. Today, does that mean those four are also Tsuya’s spies?”

            Ensuring Ite and Kani have gone completely from their view, only then Takeru stepped out from behind the tree. There was nothingness but bug buzzing while expecting nectar and birds chirping jolly while flying through the woods. No anomaly remarked any presence of other creature, at least within the radii of their location. Otome steered their intervened journey while Takeru was in charge of guarding their rear. He has supplied himself a big branch which he could beat oncoming foes once they were ensnared or such.

            “Don’t you have horns or vase, Otome?”

            The unexpected question somehow tickled Otome that he tittered at The Human, “Of course not. I’ve told you I’m the prettiest among us.”

            Takeru’s repelled expression exhibited his disgust blatantly. Otome trundled his eyes secretly. Takeru was not looking after all. “You may say we, The Virgo, are the weakest since we don’t have any formation of animal parts we represent as. Moreover, we aren’t resembling an animal. Our features are closer to a Human, or to be precise, a female.”

            “So you want to say that you could seduce The Zodiacs or other Dimensionals?”

            Takeru exclusively received a smack on his nape by Otome.

            “Since we’re physically a Human, we could do what Humans always do.” He bent down and beckoned Takeru to follow his deed without hesitancy, “As fas as I know, Humans are able to learn various kind of martial arts, weapon-equipped or not. Among The Zodiacs, only Yagi The Capricorn and I, The Virgo, could apply Earthlings’ martial arts. Our most distinct differences are Yagi has quicker manoeuvre compared to me, but I know all of Earthlings’ martial arts. This also means I could switch to any fighting style that I prefer, even during a battle.”

            Soon after Takeru has crouched on the ground as a feedback to Otome’s hand signal, a sight of another creature came into their perspective. Judging from the traits, Otome has already recognised what it was. He clutched Takeru nigh to himself as he skimmed over the scene. No noise, no evidence, but the creature deliberately came into their view believably to block them from proceeding forward.

            “What’s that?” Takeru has begun shivering. He really hated being fallen into ploys like this. His trauma from the commotion they were almost arrested by Ite has not alleviated, yet there was another one coming to seize them.

            Otome pressed his lips against each other. “It’s Yagi.”

            Takeru’s ogling eyes demonstrated his compilation of astonishment and bewilderment. “You must be kidding me.”

            The Capricorn did not really pounce at them. Otome’s broken sweat trickled down to his chin while his heart throbbed as if it might fall of the muscle in no time. Takeru tried to locate his two friends who were associated with Yagi as he witnessed beforehand. He sighed in despondency as he could not see neither Tatsu nor Hikari, and going to face Yagi head-on was also committing suicide.

            “I think Yagi wants to negotiate with us,” came out of the blue from Otome.

            “Why do you think so, Otome?”

            He was talking to Takeru, yet his eyes were fixated on Yagi. “Because Yagi’s coming to us unarmed.”

            “He would if he was to catch us too,” Takeru gritted, disliking Otome’s positivity. “Besides, it’s weird. No Tatsu or Hikari in sight. And also no Mizugame.”

            “Probably he places them somewhere else to avoid danger.”

            The gap between them was reducing. Yagi was already in his range of view as he ceased. Otome gulped in anxiety – Speaking of the devil, the real Yagi has come out in front of him and he basically was unable to abscond. Otome stood as a reaction to Yagi’s compliant engagement, “Yagi, what do you want?”

            The urge to drag Otome away from the scene really intimidated him. From crouching, Takeru gradually stood behind Otome, holding his breath as he could not speculate what Yagi was about to do. Otome has already posed into fighting stance even though he said Yagi was only wanting to bargain. From his action, Takeru could say Otome, too, was fully aware that it was not about mere wheeling and dealing.

            Trial on mind reading was carried out right before Yagi interrogated them. He plunged into Yagi’s memories two days behind, and the debate between Yagi’s group and Shishi cleared the questionable action Yagi was doing upon him and Takeru. Nevertheless, he was unable to dive more when he got pulled out by an external force.

            Who did this? Yagi did not have mind-related ability. His secondary power was self-healing. Otome clenched his teeth, understanding that he would lose himself or Takeru if he acted recklessly.

            “Oho, a good Zodiac you are!” Yagi jeered at Otome. He comprehended Otome was divulging him mind, thus stretched out his arms as if he welcomed them to his territory, “May I know your name, dear Human?”

            Takeru flinched, realizing that Yagi took note of his occupancy. Yagi grinned ear to ear, but he stood casually without fighting stance like Otome did even though he was the one instigating the tension. He relaxed his shoulders while waiting for Takeru’s response.

            “I’m Takeru,” Takeru replied with his hand clasped at Otome’s shirt, not wanting to let it go. He was slightly disturbed by the fact that he might get caught by Yagi since he has believed Yagi as another of Tsuya’s spies.

            The absence of Tatsu and Hikari with him probably because he has already given them to Tsuya, and Mizugame might also be sent there as well. Mizugame seemed skinny and fragile, hence he might have lost to Yagi which was powerful in combating. As the result, Yagi surrendered the three of them to Tsuya already.

            “You don’t have to be afraid of me. I won’t do you harm,” Yagi lowered his sharp stares, reassuring them that he would not even glare, “I just want to take you together with us.”

            Us? Otome and Takeru exchanged glances, confounding what he meant.

            “Show us Tatsu and Hikari first, then we will befit to follow you,” Takeru undoubtedly appealed despite his trembling limbs. Otome nonstop nudging him and hissing at him ‘What are you talking about?’. Takeru slowly moved from Otome’s hind to Otome’s side. “The main reason I concurred to follow Otome here is to find my friends back. I want us to re-gather and return to The Earth as a group of five – no one left behind. So, I want you to prove me that my friends are safe and sound.”

            Merriment sparked in him. Yagi was shocked at Takeru’s dedication. How loyal Humans could be in friendship that they were so loath to leave any of them in The Dimension? Was The Dimension that scary to be afraid of? Tatsu and Hikari were also like this too. In fact, they were almost punched each other just because Tatsu uttered out his ridiculous plan.

            “I will show you. But they are not here-“

            “Then we’re not going.”

            Without any delay, Otome’s back skin stretched and torn a little. A pair of wings spread out, developing in size and factor to gape over. Yagi’s smile faded instantly and replaced with indescribable daze. Even Takeru who was at his side blinked in disbelief since he has witnessed how grievous Otome’s wings have erupted, but he had no chance to substantiate his concern when Otome swiftly swept him into his embrace and flapped his wings. Yagi paused for mere seconds before he snapped and materialized his horns on his head. He severed one and elongated it using magical spells learnt in The Capricorn Valley. It then altered into a long pole around three meters in length. However, while he waited for his horn to finish transforming, Otome has already flied high in the air, fleeing with Takeru.

            “Mizugame!” Yagi shouted and his voice echoed the forest until some birds flew away.

            Out of the blue, a stream of faked river flowed strangely upward from in-between trees. It obviously was aimed to strike Otome, and it surprisingly went against the gravity theoretically discovered by Isaac Newton. Takeru shifted to learn Mizugame was on the ground, hoisting his vase with both hands and locking his eyes at them as targets. He steadily gripped on his vase since it did not show any symptoms of cracking or breaking anytime. They were far from The River of Adam, but the strong currency of the faked river successfully compelled Otome to halt and land instead of withstanding.

            It was the ultimate move of Aquarius’ ability, with their drinking water as the source.

            “There goes my drink gets contamination,” Mizugame grunted.

            The thoracic spine already pained him. Mizugame’s attack exacerbated his draining stamina. Mizugame was well-prepared with his own plan to catch Otome so that he and Takeru would not escape, hence he has forged another smaller vase at his foot to form a string of water and tie Otome in the air. Otome groaned in soreness as the watery string gripped unflinchingly against his hurting vertebral column and eventually crashed onto the ground in slow motion.

            “Takeru!” someone cried the name and it seemed that the owner of the voice was getting nearer. “Mizugame, you’re too harsh!”

            “No, it’s because I saw The Human with Otome that I decided to pull him downward instead of splashing him with my river!” Mizugame tried hard to defend himself. “See? He’s fine. No injury.”

            Due to the shock, both Takeru and Otome could not even lift up their head. As his blurry sight obscured his view, the silhouette of Tatsu and Hikari emerged to rescue him.